Visually impaired man at ease flying a plane
BBC"It's been a forever experience for someone who is disabled," said Michael, 66, who has a visual impairment.
Flynqy Pilot Training in partnership with charity Aerobility is giving disabled people the chance to experience flying for themselves by piloting a light aircraft through its Cornwall Flying Scholarship programme.
Thanks to the initiative Michael, who lives in Cornwall, was given full control by an instructor for a short flight during an event at Cornwall Airport Newquay on 11 September.
"I've been up there ever since," Michael said.
Flynqy said there was a vetting process and anyone from Cornwall or Devon "willing to travel" to Newquay was welcome to apply.
Michael said he was registered visually impaired in 23 April 2023 and had permanent inoperable double vision and in 24 October 2024, he was diagnosed with cognitive impairment meaning he had a delayed sensory response.
"I struggle to cross a road but I can turn around and tell people I've flown an aeroplane," said Michael.
"It's good for your mental health, it's good for your wellbeing... that means everything."
Flynqy Pilot Training said the initiative launched in September provided a pathways for applicants wanting to develop their aviation knowledge and further their pilot training.
Director Zara Dinnacombe said there was two levels, the beginner scholarship where successful applicants could experience a 50-minute trial flight or an intermediate scholarship.
The intermediate scholarship provides applicants with three hours of fully funded flight training, introducing them to the fundamentals of flying and giving them the opportunity to experience formal pilot training first-hand.
Michael paid for a 30-minute flight, which was subsided by Aerobility, where his instructor explained the different systems and what he needed to do.
"I had the controls flying over Padstow up the coast and onto Port Issac," he said.
"I felt at ease and comfortable.
"It's something to always talk about and look back on no matter what the future holds... it's a forever experience."
Nathan Doidge, 44, was born with cerebral palsy and told he would never do "anything" - but at the age of 33 he gained his pilot's licence.
Through Aerobility, a UK charity dedicated to giving disabled people access to aviation, Doidge begun his training through a scholarship in London in 2009.
His childhood dream became a reality in 2012 when he received his private pilot's licence.
"Ever since I was a kid I wanted to fly but I didn't expect anyone to believe I could even though I did."
Doidge, who lives in Hayle and flies for fun, said this scholarship was a good opportunity for the disabled community to experience the freedom of flight for themselves.
FlyNqy Pilot Training"Doctors said when I was born I wouldn't be able to do anything, so anything's possible," Doidge said.
"When I learned how to fly, it was said I was probably the most disabled pilot in the UK.
"As proud of that as I am, now it's time to pass that baton to somebody else."
He said being able to fly an aircraft was a confidence boost because it was something most "able-bodied people don't do".
Dinnacombe said the scholarship was something the company had always wanted to offer but financially they were not able to until they received a "generous donation" from a local pilot.
"We're hoping to encourage people with a range of disabilities who may not have thought about aviation before into the industry, either for pleasure or possibly as a career if that's something they want to pursue," she said.
Since launching the initiative in September, they have received about 30 applications.
"Whilst the scholarship primarily focuses on physical disabilities, we're also open to applications from people with hidden disabilities, ex-military personal and either adults or children who are living with mental illness in the county and beyond," said Dinnacombe.
Applications close on Sunday, but she is hopeful the scholarship will run again next year.
Pilot and head of training at Flynqy Marshall Cligman said the South West region lacked a number of things that happen in other parts of the country including aviation.
He hopes this scholarship will create a "movement" and more aviation opportunities for the disabled community.
Cligman, who has been a pilot for about 40 years, added: "I love flying, I love my job, but seeing someone get something from it is what moves me more than anything.
"That's why I'm here."
Michael said: "We're pigeon-holed and people make judgements about disabled people, but we need to be stimulated.
"We need to get out there and I think it's wonderful that we're accepted to do this."
Andrew Boomer, operations director at Cornwall Airport Newquay, said it was a pleasure to welcome the "superb" scholarship and working with people in the industry was "opening as many doors as we can for as many people as possible".
"In the South West, we're probably leading from the front in terms of offering this opportunity for people who wouldn't otherwise get the opportunity," he added.
Chairman of the Aerobility board of trustees Neil Tucker said: "It's wonderful to be opening up the freedom of flight to people in Cornwall, giving them the chance to learn to fly over one of the most beautiful parts of the UK.
"Opportunities like ours empower people because as we have seen flying massively boosts self-confidence and people's ability to believe they can do anything."
